Apparatus for selecting and typing the letter in the chinese letter printing telegraph, electrical chinese letter typewriter or the like machine



Aug. 6, 1963 NOBORU TORlUMl ETAL 3,100,036

APPARATUS FOR SELECTING AND TYPING THE LETTER IN THE CHINESE LETTER PRINTING TELEGRAPH, ELECTRICAL CHINESE LETTER TYPEWRITER OR THE LIKE MACHINE 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 16, 1961 1N VEN TORS NOBURU TORIUMI ,SHIMEO OGAWH SHINJI OGATA owTEIJ'I YAMURA ?7r BY i g ATTORNEY$ Aug. 6, 1963 NOBORU TORIUMI ETAL 3,100;036 APPARATUS FOR SELECTING AND TYPING THE LETTER IN THE CHINESE LETTER PRINTING TELEGRAPH, ELECTRICAL CHINESE LETTER TYFEWRITER OR THE LIKE MACHINE 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 16, 1961 INVENTORS- NOBORU TORlUMI Sb-NE OGAWA 'SHINB'I OGATA mwTElJl YAMURA ATTORNEYS Aug. 6, 1963 NOBORU TORlUMl ETAL 3,100,036

APPARATUS FOR SELECTING AND TYPING THE LETTER IN THE CHINESE LETTER PRINTING TELEGRAPH, ELECTRICAL CHINESE LETTER TYPEWRITER OR THE LIKE MACHINE Filed Jan. 16, 1961 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 IN V EN TOR5 NOBORU TORIUMI SHINIEO OGAWA SHINE! OGATAEWPTEJH'I \(ANURA ATTORNEYS Aug. 6, 1963 NOBORU TORIUMI ETAL 3,100,036

APPARATUS FOR SELECTING AND TYPING THE LETTER IN THE CHINESE LETTER PRINTING TELEGRAPH, ELECTRICAL CHINESE LETTER TYPEWRITER OR THE LIKE MACHINE Filed Jan. 16, 1961 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 "f" E ii a 1 Q S a 8 E if :5 1; INVENTORS L: NOBORU TORIUMl SHIMEO MAM/ swan OGATA mm YANURA W M W ATTORNEYS Aug. 6, 1963 NOBORU TORIUMI ETAL 3,100,036

APPARATUS FOR SELECTING AND TYPING THE LETTER IN THE CHINESE LETTER PRINTING TELEGRAPH, ELEcTRIcAL CHINESE LETTER TYPEWRITER OR THE LIKE MACHINE 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Jan. 16, 1961 INVENTORS N B RU TORJUMI SHIMEO OGAWA ,SHINJ'I OGATA BFOTEIJ: YAMURA BY A p M M o c o o o AT TO R N EYS APPARATUS FOR ELECTING AND TYPING THE LETTER D; THE CHINESE LETTER PRTNTING TELEGRAPH, ELECTRICAL CSE LETTER TYPEWRITER OR THE LIKE MAC I Noboru Toriumi, Chiba-shi, and Shimeo (igaw'a, Shiny! Ogata, and Teiji Yamura, I-Ianamaki-shi, Japan; sa d Toriumi, said Ogawa and said Ogata assignors to said Yamura Filed Jan 16, 1961, Ser. No. 82,920 7 Claims. (Cl. 197-4) The present invention relates to a teleprinter for printing characters in the Chinese alphabet from a punched ta e.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an apparatus for printing characters in the Chinese alphabet by converting an electric signal into a selection signal, and thereafter utilizing this signal to position a striking hammer and a type member over a platen simultaneously, after which a striking movement is given to the hammer, the type wheel running at a constant speed during the selection operation.

The apparatus according to the invention comprises a type wheel having a plurality of rows of type members thereon movable radially of the type wheel, the type wheel being rotated continuously at a constant speed. A striking hammer is mounted within the type wheel and is fixed as to longitudinal movement relative to the type wheel, and is rotatably mounted for rotational movement in the direction of the type wheel and at the same speed. The type wheel is movable longitudinally of its axis relatiVe to said striking hammer, and has means attached thereto for carrying out this movement. Ratchet means are provided for engaging the striking hammer and carrying it along with the rotating type wheel, and hammer actuating means are provided for actuating the hammer to strike the type on the type wheel when the type and hammer move to a predetermined position opposed to a platen. Electrical actuating means are pnovided for receiving a signal from a punched tape and converting this signal to a longitudinal mechanical movement of the type wheel and a mechanical actuation of the ratchet means.

The resulting apparatus is a continuously running teleprinter mechanism in which the selection means for selecting the proper time for actuating the overall printing action and for correctly positioning the type wheel longitudinally of its axis are completely electrical, only the actual positioning and striking of the striking hammer and type being mechanical, so that a rapid operation of the apparatus can be carried out.

The invention will now be described in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a sectional side elevation view of the apparatus according to the invention;

FIG. 2 is a view taken on line 22 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a schematic view of the means for actuating the ratchet means for selecting the time for starting rotation of the striking hammer in synchronism with the type wheel;

FIG. 4 is a circuit diagram of the apparatus according to the invention;

FIG. 5 is a time diagram showing the relative sequence of operation of the various parts of the apparatus according to the invention;

FIG. 6 is a plan view of a part of a tape from which the signals for operating the apparatus according to the invention are taken; and

FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken on line 77 of FIG. 1.

As seen in FIG. 1, a type wheel 1 has type members 2 arranged in axially extending rows of twelve, there being 92 rows spaced circumferentially around the type wheel. Type members 2 are slida'bly positioned in holes 3,100,036 Patented Aug, 6, 1963 2 in the type wheel and are caused to strike against paper on a platen positioned at a predetermined position adjacent the type wheel 1 by a striking hammer 4 Return springs 3 are positioned around each type member 2 for returning the type members to their rest position after they have been struck by the hammer 4.

Type wheel 1 is freely rotatably mounted on type wheel frame 5 at one end by means of three rollers 6 spaced circumferentially around the type wheel and equidistantly spaced from each other, the rollers 6 running on a collar 6a fixed to the type wheel frame, and at the other end by a bearing 7 in which stub shaft 7a is rotatably mounted. The type wheel frame 5 is in turn mounted on rail 5a on the main frame 34 for sliding movement therealong, the type wheel frame being guided by guide wheel 5b. I

Drive means are provided for said type wheel. A main shaft 8 is rotatably mounted on the main frame 34 in bearings 11 and 12, and it has an arm 9 on one end thereof within the type Wheel 1, the freeend 0f the arm being slidably engaged between rods 10 which extend parallel to the axis of the type wheel. A movement of the type wheel frame 5 and the type wheel in the direction of the axis thereof will therefore cause relative sliding movement of the end of the rod 9 along rods 10, while the rod will continue to be able todrive the type Wheel in rotation. Attached to the middle of the main shaft 8 is a driven gear 13 and a ratchet wheel 14. The driven gear 13 is driven from a prime mover (not shown) at a constant speed so as to rotate the shaft 8 and the type wheel 1 at a constant speed. a

On the end of the main shaft 8 remote from the arm 9 is part of a signal converting means in the form of an insulated brush holder 15 Which has mounted thereop four pairs of brushes '16, 17, 18 and i9 spaced at from each other. Adjacent the brush holder is a distributing disc 20 of insulating material on which are four conductor rings 22, 23, 24 and 25 and a segmented ring 21. Each pair of brushes has one brush contacting the segmented ring 21 and the other brush contacting only one of the four conducting rings.

The striking hammer 4 forms part of a striking hammer assembly which further comprises a hollow shaft 28 positioned concentrically with the main shaft 8 and supported on the main frame 34 by bearings 25 and 27; Mounted on one end of the hollow shaft within the type wheel 1 is a striking hammer support 29 having the one ends of hammer arms 30 and 31 pivoted thereon, the striking hammer 4- being pivoted to the other ends of the hammer arms, the hammer arms and the striking hammer forming a parallel motion linkage for causing the striking hammer to move radially of the type wheel 1 to strike a type member 2. Hammer arm 31 has a rectangular cross section with the small dimension radially of the type wheel 1; A cam roller 33 is mounted on the hammer arm 31 arid contacts a typing cam 35 which is fixed on the main frame 34. The cam roller is kept in contact with the cam 35 by the action of spring 32 which extends between the hammer arm 31 and the hammer support 29 and is resil ient only in the direction of its length, so that the hammer arm 31 is resiliently held in the radial direction of the type wheel 1. A hammer arm stop 90 is mounted on the hammer support 29 in the path of movement of the hammer arm 31.

A coil spring 36 is mounted on the hollow shaft 28 and has the free end secured to the main frame (by a e'o nec tion not shown). When the hollow shaft 28 and the hammer support 29, hammer arms 30 and 31 and striking hammer 4 are rotated, the coil spring 3 6 is wound up until the typing cam 35 causes the hammer to strike the type member 2, after which the coil spring 36 unwihds to return the mechanism for causing the hammer to strike to its initial position.

On the end of the hollow shaft 28 remote from the hammer support 29 is mounted coupling means for causing rotation of the striking hammer assembly. On bracket 28b are pivotally mounted four ratchet arms 37, 38, 39 and 40 spaced around the upper part of the hollow shaft 28, as shown schematically in FIG. 3, the pivotal mounting permitting pivoting of the ratchet arms toward the ratchet wheel 14, which has a plurality of ratchet teeth 8b thereon, there being twenty-three such teeth on the ratchet wheel of the present embodiment, i.e. one-fourth of the number of rows of type members on the type wheel 1. Engaging the respective ratchet arms are trip latches 41, 42, 43 and 44 which are pivoted on the bracket 28b so as to be swung back to release the ratchet arms. Also pivoted on the bracket 28b are release levers 45, 46, 47 and 48 which have one end in engagement with the ratchet arms at all times, and have the other end projecting over a release cam 57 fixed on the main frame 34 and having cam parts 58, 59, 60 and 61 projecting into the path of the other ends of the release levers. The respective ratchet arms are urged toward the ratchet wheel 14 by ratchet arm springs 49, 50, 51 and 52, and the trip latches are held in engagement with the ratchet arms by springs 53, 54, 55 and 56 (shown only in FIG. 3) until the ratchet armsare released.

Four actuating magnets 62, 63, 64 and 65 are mounted on the main frame 34, one opposite each ratchet arm, and they have armatures 66, 67, 68 and 69 pivoted thereon and have plungers 70, 71, 72 and 73 pivoted to the armatures, the plungers being opposite the respective trip latches and movable when the magnets are energized to pivot the trip latches to release the ratchet arms for engagement with the teeth 812 on the ratchet wheel 14. i It will be seen that when the plunger '70, for example, releases the trip latch 41, the ratchet arm 37 will be urged toward the ratchet wheel 14, which is rotating, by the spring 49, and will engage with one of the teeth 8a. The hollow shaft 28 and all of the parts of the striking hammer assembly will thereupon be rotated at the same speed as the type wheel 1, which is driven at the same speed as the ratchet wheel 14, until the striking hammer 4 is aligned with the platen 85. At this point, the typing cam 35 causes the hammer arms 30 and 31 to move radially outwardly to cause the hammer 4 to move toward a type member in the row which is aligned with the hammer 4. The hammer arm 31 strikes the stop 90, however, which stops the hammer arm short of a position in which the hammer can strike a type member, and the resiliency of the hammer arm 31 and the inertia of the hammer 4 causes the movement of the hammer 4 to continue until it strikes the type member, and then. the resiliency of the hammer arm 31 will cause the hammer to be drawn back so that when the type member is returned to its initial position by the spring 3, it will not be struck again by the hammer 4. Repetitions of letters are thereby avoided.

At the time the hammer arms 30 and 31 are moved radially by the typing cam 35, the cam parts 58 on the release cam 57 will be struck by the release lever 45, which causes the ratchet arm 37 to be drawn away from the ratchet wheel 14 against the action or spring 49. The members on the hollow shaft are therefore no longer engaged with the rotating main shaft 8, and the coil spring 36 therefore returns the hollow shaft and all of the parts of the striking hammer assembly thereon to the initial position.

The striking hammer 4 is caused to become aligned with the desired type member 2 in the type wheel 1 by the manner in which the ratchet arms and the operating means thereafter are placed relative to the ratchet teeth 8:: on the ratchet wheel, and the number of ratchet teeth and rows of type members on the type wheel. As pointed out above, and as schematically represented in FIG. 3, there are ninety-two rows of type members on the type wheel A, B, C...W, A2, B2, C2...W2, A3, B3, C3 W3, A4, B4 W4, while there are twentythree teeth 8a on the ratchet wheel. The ratchet teeth are spaced so that there are four rows of type members corresponding to each ratchet tooth. In addition, the segmented ring 21 is divided up into the same number of segments A, B, C W as there are ratchet teeth, twenty-three. The ratchet arms 37, 38, 39 and 40 are spaced from each other a distance equal to three and three-fourths the circumferential spacing of the ratchet teeth 8a, although the spacing could be any integral number of teeth less one-fourth of the dimension of a tooth. As a result, when the ratchet arm 37 is released, the adjacent tooth 8:: will act on it immediately, while when the ratchet arm 38 is released, the tooth closest to the ratchet arm will have to move through three-fourths of a tooth dimension before it hits the ratchet arm. For ratchet arm 39, the ratchet wheel will move through only half a tooth dimension, and for ratchet arm 45), the ratchet wheel will move through only a quarter of a tooth dimension before it strikes the ratchet arm.

Also forming part of the signal converting means are two sets of relay contacts 16 and r12 provided in each magnet circuit, both contacts normally being open in the circuit for magnet 62, r6 normally being closed and r12 normally being open in the circuit for magnet 63, r6 normally being open and r12 normally being closed in the circuit for magnet 64, and both normally being closed in the circuit for magnet 65. Thus when relays R6 and R12 are both energized, both contacts for magnet 12 will be closed, While in the circuits for the other magnets one or the other or both of the contacts will be open. For other combinations of conditions of relays R6 and R12, e.g. R6 energized and R12 not energized, only one of the other magnet circuits will have both contacts closed, e.g. the circuit for magnet 64. When neither are energized, the circuit for magnet will remain closed, whereas if either or both relays are energized, one or both contacts will be opened.

Thus by energizing one of the segments of the segmented ring 21 and setting the condition of the two relays R6 and R12, the hammer 4 can be cause-d to rotate in alignment with a selected row of type members 4. If, for example, the segment A is energized and both relays R6 and R12 are ener ized, current will flow from the segment A to the ring 22 across the brushes 16, and from the ring it will be conducted through the closed contacts 16 and r12 to energize relay AA. This in turn closes the relay contact an to energize the magnet 62 through the closed contact CO. The energized magnet 62 causes the plunger to release the ratchet arm 37 to engage the tooth which is right at the brush '16. It will be seen that if the segment B were energized, the next succeeding tooth would be engaged by the ratchet arm 37, and so on around the twenty-three teeth on the ratchet Wheel. If the normal position of the hammer 4 is as shown in dotted lines in FIG. 3, when the ratchet arm 37 engages the respective ratchet tooth 8a, the hammer 4 will start to rotate with the type wheel in alignment with the row of type which is radially aligned with the hammer 4 at the instant'of engagement. The hammer 4 will continue to rotate in alignment with this row of type until it reaches the position 4' in FIG. 3, when the type cam 35 will cause it to strike a type member in the row, after which the hammer will return to the position 4 under the action of the coil spring 36. The cam parts 58, 59, 6t) and 61 are spaced from the positions of the magnets 62, 63, 64 and 65 the same distance from the rest position of the hammer 4 to the striking position, so that when the hammer reaches the striking position, the release levers 45, 46, 47 or 48 will strike the respective cam part to disengage the ratchet arm from the ratchet Wheel.

It will thus be clear that it is possible by energizing the correct combination of segments of the segmented ring 21 and the relays R6 and R12 to cause the hammer 4 to start rotating with the type wheel 1 at any point in its rotation, so as to cause the hammer to strike a type member in any row when that row comes even with the platen 85. When the relay R12 only is energized, the magnet 63 will be energized to release the ratchet arm 38 and the teeth 8:: will be engaged so as to align the hammer with one of the rows A2, B2, C2 W2, while when the relay R6 only is energized, the magnet 64 will be energized to release ratchet arm 39 and the teeth 8a will be engaged so as to align the hammer with one of the type rows A3, B3, C3 W3. When neither relay is energized, the magnet 65 will be energized to release ratchet arm 40 and the teeth 8:: will be engaged so as to align the hammer with one of the type rows A4, B4 W4.

In order to make certain that the proper magnet is energized, the elements of the magnet circuits are designed to operate the magnet just as the brush leaves the energized segment on the segmented ring. Further, the shaded sections L1, F2, W3, Q4, F1, W2, P4, W1, F3 and W4 shown in FIG. 3 represent rows of type members which are missing from the type wheel in order to provide rods forming the groove therebetween for the arm 9.

Referring to the circuit diagram of FIG. 4, which illustrates the remainder of the signal converting means, there are provided six contact pin sets T1, T2, T3, T4, T5 and T6 each having one side grounded and the other side connected to the arm of a relay contact Ch. The pin sets are positioned to be moved toward each other in correspondence with the positions of a transverse row of holes punched in a tape as seen in FIG. 6. Five of the relay arms Ch in the normal position are in contact with relay magnets R1, R2, R3, R4 and R5, each of which have holding contacts r1, r2, r3, 1'4 and r5, and each of which is in turn connected through clutch magnets SCI, SCZ, SC3, 8C4 and 8C5 to ground through a power supply. The power supply is also connected through energizing coil CM for the clutch for the programing cam, an on-off switch SW and through a relay contact CO to ground. The clutch magnets energize a means (not shown) for moving the type wheel longitudinally of its axis along the rail So on the frame 34. Each of the holding contacts r1r5 are connected through a program switch I2 to ground. The contacts of the sixth relay contact Ch is connected through the relay R6 and a power supply to ground, and the holding contact r6 therefor is connected to ground through the programing switch 12. The energizing magnet CH for the relay contacts Ch is connected on one side to ground through a power supply and on the other side through ground through a programing switch II.

The relays AA, AB, AC, and AD and the contacts aa, ab, ac and ad, described above with respect to FIG. 3 are shown connected through the magnet coils 62, 63, 64 and 6S and through relay contact CO to ground, the relay contacts r6 and r12 for each of relays AA, AB, AC and AD being shown connected to the conductor rings 22, 23, 24 and 25. The brushes 16, 17, 18 and 19 are shown connected across the conductor rings and the segments AW of the segmented ring 21. Each contact of a plurality of pairs of contacts of relay contacts r11 is connected to a different one of the segments AW, the pairs of contacts being positioned for contact with a relay arm of one of a plurality of arms of the relay contacts r11. In similar fashion, pairs of arms of the relay contacts r11 are connected to opposed contacts between which are relay arms of relay contacts r14), and the relay arms of the relay contacts r10 are connected to pairs of opposed contacts between which are relay arms of relay contacts r9. The relay arms of the relay contacts r9 are connected to opposed contacts between which are relay arms r8, and the relay arms of relay contacts r8 are connected to opposed contacts between which is a relay arm for relay contact 17. The arm of relay contact #7 is connected to one contact of relay contact CO, the other contact of which is connected through relay energizing coil CO to a power 6 supply, and the arm of relay contact CO is connected through programing switch 14 to ground. Certain of the contacts on some of the relay contacts r11 and r9 are 'connected through a switch THC to ground.

There is also mounted on the main shaft an ordering cam (not shown) which acts to close and open certain of the programing switches. At the time represented at the line at the left of time period TA in FIG. '5, with the starting switch SW on, the ordering cam clutch is energized by the relay CM, and has started one revolution. The first thing which the ordering cam does is to open programing switch 14, which breaks the circuit through the relay coil CO for the relay contacts CO, permitting them to assume the positions shown in FIG. 4. This in turn breaks the circuit through the circuit through the clutch magnet CM so that the magnet is no longer energized. The ordering cam will then complete one revolution of the main shaft and stop until the clutch magnet CM is energized again. At the same time the contact pins T1T6 are closed over the tape, so that circuits are completed through whatever holes 1tl1106 are punched therein. With the relay contacts Ch in the position shown in FIG. 4, and the switch 11 open so that relay coil CH is not energized, the relay coils R1--R6 which correspond to completed circuits for pins T1--T6 will be energized and the holding relays r1-r& will close. Thereafter the ordering cam opens the switch 12, thereby clearing any of the holding relays which remain from a previous sequence, and then closes the switch 12 again. At the same time the brake means on the axial moving means for the type wheel is released, as shown at SL of FIG. 5, and since the relay coils SC1SC5 are energized, the axial movement of the type wheel takes place during the time ST. Thereafter, the brake means is again energized as shown on the line SL.

Simultaneously with the closing of the contact pins T1T6, the tape is braked by the energization of a tape braking means as shown by line FD. After the axial movement of the type wheel has started, the contact pins T1--T6 are separated, as shown by line TP at IP2 and the brake on the tape is released, as shown at fdl on line PD. The ordering cam then closes switch I1, thereby energizing the coil CH and switching over the relay contacts Ch to the position opposite that shown in FIG. 4. The contact pins T1T6 are again closed, as shown at IP 3 on line TP, and braking of the tape again occurs as shown on line FD. Thereupon circuits are completed through holes 107-112 of the tape where these holes exist, and the relay coils R7R12 are energized, along with the holding contacts r7r1 2, as shown on the l-ine representing the action of these relays. After a short time interval, the contact pins are opened, as shown at tP4- on line TP, and the brake on the tape is released, as at fDZ on line FD. At about the same time the ordering cam opens the programing switch 11, and relay coil OH is deenergized permitting the relay contacts Ch to return to the position as shown in FIG. 4. The programing cam then causes switch 14 to close, completing a circuit through the segments AW and relay contacts r7-r1-1. The sequence of operations is now at the end of time period TA, and the punched character on the tape has been converted into a longitudinal movement of the type wheel as well as a selection of the segment AW to be energized by the selective closing of the relay contacts r6r12.

In time period TB, the brush 16, 17, 18 or 19 connects the energized segment to the relay coils AA-AD as shown as SE1 and SE2, thereupon closing the relay contacts aaad as shown on line AA-AD of FIG. 5 and energizing clutch magnets 6265, as shown on line 62-65 of FIG. 5. Thereupon, after a slight delay, the action of an inking roller commences, as shown by the line RI, and at the same time the switch THC is closed. This completes the circuit through the energizing coil CO for the relay contacts CO, closing the one in the circuit with the coil CM, thereby the ordering cam is started on another revolution, as shown by line CM. During the time THI, the striking hammer assembly follows the rotation of the type wheel, it being caused to move radially :during TH3 to point TH4 and rebounding due to the resiliency of the hammer arm 31 as described above. The striking hammer assembly is returned to its starting position by spring 36 during time THZ, the hammer arms being moved radially inwardly along the typing cam 35 during time THS.

It will be seen that when the relay CO is energized and the relay contact CO in the circuit for the magnets 62, 63, 64and 65 is opened, this brings to an end the time period TB, and the electrical selection system is ready to operate again, the programing switch I4 being closed, the programing cam having been given another rotation, and all of the relays and relay contacts again being ready to receive the signal. The typing action, which has been initiated at the end of time period TB continues, however, the part of the action remaining being purely mechanical.

As shown in FIG. 7, an inking roller 94 is provided which is rotatably mounted on a lever arm 96 by a roller shaft 95. The lever arm is pivoted at its center on a pivot 97, and at the other end has pivoted thereto a rod 93 having a cam follower 92 on the end thereof. The cam follower 92 runs on an inking roller cam 91 on the hollow shaft 28. When the hollow shaft starts to rotate due to the engagement of the ratchet arms with the ratchet wheel 14, when the striking hammer 4 reaches a point just preceding the predetermined position of the platen 85, the inking roller cam 91 causes the lever $6 to pivot to lower the inking roller 94 onto the rows of type members just before they reach a position of alignment with the platen. The inking roller 94 thus inks only a few rows of type members 2 just prior to their alignment with the platen, and by making the inking roller narrow enough to ink only a few type members along the length of a row, ink can be conserved and the type will not become dirty as quickly as if the ink roller contacted the type wheel at all times.

It will thus be seen that there has been provided an apparatus for printing signals from a punched tape which the striking hammer for striking a type member to cause it to print is caused to rotate in alignment with a particular row of type members on a continuously rotating type wheel and to strike a type member in said row when the hammer and type row'come into alignment with a platen. The hammer is then released and returns to a starting position to again be caused to rotate in alignment with the particular row of type members which is selected next. The means for converting the signal from the punched tape to a mechanical action for ro tating the striking hammer assembly is substantially all electrical, thereby limiting the rotating mechanical parts and permitting a high selecting speed. The movement of the hammer is limited so that it takes only a short time for it to move to the striking position and return. A high speed apparatus therefore results.

It is thought that the invention and its advantages will be understood from the foregoing description and it is apparent that various changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangement of the parts without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention or sacrificing its material advantages, the form hereinbefore described and illustrated in the drawings being merely a preferred embodiment thereof.

We claim:

1. Apparatus for printing, comprising a type wheel having a plurality of type members around the periphery thereof, said type members being mounted in said type wheel for radial sliding movement, a main frame on which said type wheel is mounted at least for rotation about the axis of said type wheel, a striking hammer assembly havinng a striking hammer within said type Wheel and having means for moving said striking hammer radially for striking one of said type members at a predetermined rotational position, said striking hammer assembly being rotatably mounted on said main frame for rotation around the axis of said type wheel, drive means driving said type wheel at a constant speed, coupling means on said striking hammer assembly for coupling said striking hammer assembly to said drive means and releasing said striking hammer assembly from said drive means when said striking hammer and type wheel reach said predetermined rotational position, actuating means positioned adjacent said coupling means for actuating said coupling means for coupling said striking hammer assembly to said drive means, and signal converting means coupled to said actuating means for converting a signal from a punched tape and operating said actuating means at a selected time, whereby said striking hammer is caused to rotate in alignment with one of said type members until said predetermined position is reached, at which time the striking hammer strikes the type member and is adapted to cause it to print on a piece of paper at said predetermined position.

2. Apparatus for printing, comprising a type wheel having a plurality of rows of type members extending parallel to the axis thereof, said type members being mounted in said type wheel for radial sliding movement, a main frame on which said type wheel is mounted for rotation about the axis of said type wheel and for sliding movement parallel to the axis thereof, a striking hammer assembly having a striking hammer within said wheel and having means for moving said striking hammer radially for striking a type member in one of said rows of type members at a predetermined rotational position, said striking hammer assembly being rotatably mounted on said main frame for rotation around the axis of said type wheel, drive means driving said type wheel at a constant speed, coupling means on said striking hammer assembly for coupling said striking hammer assembly to said drive means and releasing said striking hammer assembly from said drive means when said striking hammer and type Wheel reach said predetermined rotational position, actuating means positioned adjacent said coupling means for actuating said coupling means for coupling said striking hammer assembly to said drive means, signal converting means for converting a signal from a punched tape and operating said actuating means at a selected time and for moving said type wheel axially to a selected position, a platen adjacent said type wheel at said predetermined position, and an inking roller means on the outside of said type wheel, whereby said striking hammer is caused to rotate in alignment with one of said rows of type members until said predetermined position is reached, at which time the striking hammer strikes one of the type members in the row and is adapted to cause it to print on a piece of paper at said predetermined position.

3. Apparatus as claimed in claim 2 in which said coupling means comprises at least one ratchet arm and said drive means includes a ratchet wheel, said coupling means further comprising means for holding said ratchet arm out of engagement with said ratchet wheel, and said actuating means comprises at least one actuating electromagnet having a plunger moved thereby when said magnet is energized, said plunger being positioned to strike said means for holding said ratchet arm and releasing said ratchet arm.

4. Apparatus as claimed in claim 2 in which said striking hammer assembly comprises a pair of hammer arms to one end of which said striking hammer is pivoted, a striking hammer support on which the other ends of said arms are pivotally mounted to form a parallel link- ;age mechanism for moving said hammer radially of said type Wheel, a stop on said support against which one of said hammer arms abuts when said hammer is just short of striking the type member aligned therewith, said one hammer arm being resilient, whereby the inertia of said hammer and hammer arms causes said hammer to continue to move to strike the type member and then rebound from the type member.

5. Apparatus as claimed in claim 2 in which said signal converting means includes a segmented ring and at least one contact ring, a brush in contact with said rings, said contact ring being connected to said actuating means, and means for energizing one segment of said segmented ring according to the type member to be struck, whereby said actuating means is actuated for coupling said drive means and said hammer assembly when said brush moves across the energized segment of said segmented ring.

6. Apparatus as claimed in claim 5 in which said actuating means comprises at least one actuating electromagnet and said signal converting means further comprises a relay having a contact actuated thereby in the circuit of said electro-magnet, said brush being connected to said relay, said relay having a time delay therein such that energization of said relay when said brush moves References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,247,585 Shah Nov. 20, 1917 2,412,777 Kao Dec. 17, 1946 2,458,339 Buhier et al Jan. 4, 1949 2,728,816 Kao Dec. 27, 1955 2,950,800 Caldwell Aug. 1.960 2,963,137 McDonough Dec. 6, 1960 

1. APPARATUS FOR PRINTING, COMPRISING A TYPE WHEEL HAVING A PLURALITY OF TYPE MEMBERS AROUND THE PERIPHERY THEREOF, SAID TYPE MEMBERS BEING MOUNTED IN SAID TYPE WHEEL FOR RADIAL SLIDING MOVEMENT, A MAIN FRAME ON WHICH SAID TYPE WHEEL IS MOUNTED AT LEAST FOR ROTATION ABOUT THE AXIS OF SAID TYPE WHEEL, A STRIKING HAMMER ASSEMBLY HAVING A STRIKING HAMMER WITHIN SAID TYPE WHEEL AND HAVING MEANS FOR MOVING SAID STRIKING HAMMER RADIALLY FOR STRIKING ONE OF SAID TYPE MEMBERS AT A PREDETERMINED ROTATIONAL POSITION, SAID STRIKING HAMMER ASSEMBLY BEING ROTATABLY MOUNTED ON SAID MAIN FRAME FOR ROTATION AROUND THE AXIS OF SAID TYPE WHEEL, DRIVE MEANS DRIVING SAID TYPE WHEEL AT A CONSTANT SPEED, COUPLING MEANS ON SAID STRIKING HAMMER ASSEMBLY FOR COUPLING SAID STRIKING HAMMER ASSEMBLY TO SAID DRIVE MEANS AND RELEASING SAID STRIKING HAMMER ASSEMBLY FROM SAID DRIVE 